IMSA: John Doonan on the Mazda Road to 24 ladder system

Mazda's open-wheel ladder system has become the industry standard for grooming and rewarding future IndyCar champions, and within the world of sportscar racing, the Japanese brand has an emerging program that is ready to rival its Mazda Road to Indy.

Dubbed the "Mazda Road to 24," the interlinked pathway from Mazda's reinvigorated MX-5 Cup to the Continental Tire Challenge to IMSA Prototype Lites to its flagship effort in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's Prototype class has given young drives two distinct branches to follow. Its expansive involvement in sports car racing also provides Mazda with the opportunity to develop its next wave of engine technology.

Whether it's preparing to win the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, or this weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring, Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan is confident the next generation of stars will reach their goals faster with their support.

"The Mazda Road to 24 is something we established originally in 2007," he told RACER. "It has involved into the Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Ladder, and recently, the Mazda Road to 24. Over the course of our history, [at] the 24 Hours of Le Mans, [we're] still the only Asian automaker to win that race; 23 class wins at the Rolex 24 [at Daytona], and then 13 [wins] at the 12 Hours of Sebring over the course of time. Those endurance races give us the opportunity to test the durability and reliability of our powerplants, [and] future powerplants.

"Now we've got a defined ladder on the open-wheel side, now, we have a very clear ladder and development program with the Mazda Road to 24," he added. "The shootout that we are going to do at the end of the season for club racers, [it's] $100,000 up for grabs for a grassroots club racer in Mazda power to go to the MX-5 Cup going forward. [The] MX-5 Cup champion earns a scholarship for $200,000 to go to the next level. And obviously, the cream of the crop end up in our top-level sportscar program.

"So [we're] really thrilled that we can continue to offer this program to young drivers. The people that want to develop their career in sports cars have a place; the people that want to develop their career in open wheel have a place, all thanks to Mazda and [our] investment."